N. 03/2020
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"Minga" (collective work in the Quechua language) delivery of products organized by the Cotachachi Cantonal Unity Assembly
(Corporación Toisán, UNORCAC and its Central Committee of Women) to support most vulnerable families.
Highlights

Producer organisations face challenges amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Indigenous peoples and women are amongst the most vulnerable groups and the COVID-19 pandemic has put additional weight on their shoulders. Forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs), which are partners of the Forest and Farm Facility, have been reporting different challenges that women and indigenous peoples are facing.

In Ecuador, the Union of Peasant Organizations of Cotacachi (UNORCAC) reported that fear and lack of understanding among indigenous communities on the impacts of COVID-19 on their health and safety remain prevalent. Communities, through communal organizations and in coordination with government institutions, have taken measures to avoid the spread of the disease in their villages. Some have opted for total isolation which created internal conflicts. Quarantine has affected daily and income-generating activities, paralysing tourism, limiting fresh food commercialization and incurring job losses due to travel bans to other cities.

Meanwhile, TOISAN Corporation and ACAI association emphasized that communities experience limitations in decision-making. The lack of virtual communications tools used for information and decision-making has hindered members' participation, as face-to-face gatherings have been limited.

In Nepal, the Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) reports that due to the extended lockdown, which was declared until the first week of June, women producers have felt an increasing pressure in their workload. As caretakers of the family and households, they also have to look after their farm and animals. The lockdown has negatively affected harvest of major seasonal crops including wheat, barley, potato, mustard, major pulse crops and sugarcane. This resulted in an estimated 30-40 per cent loss. April-May is normally the season for planting maize and summer vegetable crops in the hills, and for preparing the field for major crop paddy. This year imposed movement restrictions have derailed agricultural input supply chains and affected maize planting.

Best practices from countries
At the community level, FFPOS are setting dedicated support for women groups to help them overcome additional pressures from the crisis.


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For instance, the Cotton Association of Zambia (CAZ) is ensuring that gender equality is observed and exercised during the pandemic. Through the Gender Committee, CAZ is strengthening the appropriate messages on measures to monitor members in terms of gender related issues, through the Study Circle Leaders and Organizers. The Committee is also seeking new partnerships with institutions working in the same operational areas. CAZ is further raising awareness of farmer and civic leaders on gender equality to reduce sexual harassment and gender-based violence.

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In Ghana, the Community Action in Development and Research (CADER) is providing seed capital or revolving capital to 25 small women's groups whose businesses have been affected during the pandemic. It is promoting livelihood diversification activities including soap making, rearing of rabbits and moringa production. In addition, CADER is raising awareness among women groups about COVID-19, providing psychosocial support, and sharing safety protocols and government interventions in the Lawra and Nandom municipalities. To further reduce the impact of COVID-19 on farm production, the organization is also supporting communities with sources of water to engage women farmers in dry-season farming.








Experience from our partner

"The chaotic situation created by COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown by government has created insecure and unstable market where the small producer groups - who do not have access and information on market operation during emergencies - have suffered from indiscriminate transport and purchase prices set by transporters and retailers. The primary inputs like seed, fertilizer, and farm labor required in regular basis is lacking.



If this lockdown is further extended, small producer groups will suffer losses. This is highly probable considering the increasing number of infected cases in the last two weeks, and the unpreparedness of government for quarantine and other medical facilities. Producer groups should take the necessary and immediate steps to secure the welfare of smallholder farmers. They can collectively respond to the expected rise in unemployment rate, as the total 21.5 percent people of the country's employment is based on agriculture, forestry, and fishing."



Shanta Neupane, Chairperson of the
Adhar Ekta Women Producer Group in Nepal






Events





·         Sustainable wood-fuel value chains for food security in Sub-Saharan Africa<https://events.globallandscapesforum.org/agenda/bonn-2020/3-june-2020/sustainable-wood-fuel-value-chains-for-food-security-in-sub-saharan-africa/>
3 June (GLF Bonn Digital Conference 2020), 14:00-15:30

·         Web conference: Multidimensional resilience - smallholder producers managing risks<http://www.fao.org/forest-farm-facility/coviden/covidenweb-conference/en/>,
9-11 June, 10:00-16:00 (GMT+3)


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Forest and Farm Facility <http://www.fao.org/forest-farm-facility/en/>  - Follow us on #ForestFarmFacility<https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&vertical=default&q=%23ForestFarmFacility>

with support of

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